The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Henderson County Post 765 Senior Legion team played three games this past week. HCP started out the week with a home double-header with Abingdon.
In the first game, Jason Seigworth started on the mound going five strong innings. Christopher Wisslead came on in relief for the final two innings. Abingdon scored one in the top of the first to start out the game.
HCP came back in the second inning with two runs when Nick Morris and Jake Halcomb crossed the plate for a 2-1 lead. Abingdon regained the lead in the third inning when they plated four runs for a 5-2 lead.
Unfortunately for the home team, we could not push any more runs across the plate. Abingdon added one more run in the seventh for a final score of 6-2.
In game two, Quinn Leath was on the mound and pitched a great game. Quinn struck out 14 of the 27 batters he faced for a complete game victory.
HCP started out fast scoring the first five batters in the bottom of the first inning. Crossing the plate was Josh Grant, Josh Ragar, Jensen Jones, Jake Halcomb and Quinn Leath. HCP added a run in the fourth when Jensen Jones crossed the plate and two more runs in the fifth with Nick Morris and Quinn Leath scoring for a 8-0 lead.
Abingdon got on the board in the fifth with a run and two more in the top of the seventh for a final score of 8-3.
On Saturday, HCP765 was scheduled to play a home double-header with Farmington. Several factors lead to a one eleven inning incomplete game being played with no outcome being determined. The heat was a contributing factor with the heat index over 100 degrees.
An ejection of the Farmington catcher and the most critical factor being an injury to their right fielder when he collided with the second baseman on a fly ball in short right field. The right fielder was spiked in the leg and it was decided that he needed to be transported to Burlington hospital.
A thank-you to Delmar Jacob, Marvin Linder and Nick Roark, who came down to the field to check on the injured young man.
The game started out very ominous for the home team. Farmington jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the second inning. HCP finally got on the board in the fourth inning when Joshua Ragar led off with a double to center field and scored on a single by Cody Ferrill. Ferrill then scored to make it 7-2.
In the top of the fifth, Farmington added four runs highlighted by a lead-off home run to make the score 11-2. In HCP's half of the if the fifth, the game turned around when we batted 14 men in the inning scoring 10 runs to take the lead 12-11.
Our bats came alive accompanied by five Farmington errors in the inning helped the home teams cause. Sounds like the recent Cub-White Sox game doesn't it. All nine players crossed the plate with Brent Hartley crossing twice.
The game wasn't over yet as Farmington scored two in the top of the sixth to regain the lead 13-12, but HCP came right back in the bottom of the inning when Jensen Jones lead off with a single and scored to tie the game at 13 all.
In the seventh, after Farmington went down 1-2-3, HCP came to the plate for a chance to end the game and win. We loaded the bases, but unfortunately could not score sending the game into extra innings. Each team had several opportunities to win the game over the next few innings after getting men in scoring position, however not until the top of the eleventh
with two outs, Farmington hit a home run to take the lead again 14-13. This is where the game really changed complexion. In the bottom half of the eleventh, Farmington's catcher was ejected from the game for arguing an umpires ball/strike call. Brent Hartley walked to lead off the inning. Jeremy Shipman then followed with a bloop single to right field where the collision between the second baseman and right fielder ended with the injury. With men on first and second and no outs, the importance of finishing the game was not an issue, only that the young man who was injured was taken care of immediately. The game was suspended at this point.
Pitching for HCP was Justin Martin, Cody Ferrill, Jensen Jones and Jeremy Shipman.
From a spectator and coaches view, these young men showed great class and character in their come back, down 11-2 to tie the ball game, yet knowing the true importance of a person's well being. It just goes to show the character of these young men, their parents and our small communities.
The next home game is Sunday, July 7, a double header with East Moline. Starting time is 1:30. Come out to the ball park, enjoy a good game and support these young men.